Strike to disrupt Sheffield bin collections tomorrow

Dan Hobson

There will be disruptions to bin collections in Sheffield tomorrow due to a strike.

The GMB Union members at Veolia Sheffield are to strike for one day on Monday after the company's alleged 'refusal to settle a pay claim'.

Veolia have apologised for any disruption caused and assured residents that they were 'working hard' to minimise the impact.

A Veolia spokesman said: "Veolia will be making every attempt to collect all recycling waste as normal.

"We ask those residents who are due a black bin collection not to place their bins out on Monday, but instead place them out for collection before 7am on Saturday, October 22, when a small amount of side waste may be taken with your black bin waste.

"Residents expecting a green garden waste bin collection are asked to place them out as normal; however, their collection will be delayed.

"If any of your bins or boxes has not been emptied on Monday, please leave them out for collection, as we will be deploying extra crews during the week and aim to finish by Saturday."

But Lee Parkinson, GMB Organiser, accused the company of making things worse by drafting in workers from London.

He said: “This dispute could and should have been settled months ago.

"What has shocked us is the lengths that Veolia are prepared to go rather than sit down and negotiate a deal. Instead they have chosen to throw more fuel on the fire by bringing this labour in."

Collections from Tuesday, October 18, onwards should not be affected.

All Household Waste Recycling Centres will be unaffected by the industrial action and will remain open as normal.